Custom assertion for softptr fails even though it points to an asset

Development Programming & Scripting C++
, ,
1

Engine version: 4.27.2

Hi! I’m currently working on a game where I have data tables that stores information about various things in the game. In the code I have softpointers pointing to those data tables. To make sure those pointers actually point to an asset I have written an assertion in the function that gets the datatable.

Now, The problem is that even though I have set those assets inside the editor, it crashes when I try to run the project, which it shouldn’t. I’m at a complete loss as to why and hope someone can illuminate where the problem may lie. Here’s some information on what I have:

(The softptr is stored inside of a custom gameinstance.)

Here’s the declaration of the variable inside the game instance .h file:

UPROPERTY(EditDefaultsOnly, Category = "Data Table References")
TSoftObjectPtr<UDataTable> AllItemsDataTableRef;

Here’s the function that loads and returns the datatable inside the .cpp file. With my assertion at the top. I have also tried using != nullptr instead of IsValid()

UDataTable* UMainGameInstance::GetAllItemsDataTable() const
{
	checkf(AllItemsDataTableRef.IsValid(), TEXT("'AllItemsDataTableRef' has no asset referenced, make sure you create and reference an items data table."));
	
	UE_LOG(MainGameInstanceLog, Display, TEXT("AllItemsDataTableRef was found.. Returning it."));
	return Cast<UDataTable>(AllItemsDataTableRef.LoadSynchronous());
	
}

Here’s the table asset being referenced inside the editor:

image
image969×104 8.66 KB

Am I missing something about how assertions work? From what I understand it checks if the condition is false and then halts the processing. The condition .IsValid() should return true based on my setup but it doesn’t.

Thanks

2

If you remove the checkf() does the DT get loaded and returned?

Looking at source it seems like IsValid on a TSoftObjectPtr would only return true when the object is already loaded:

	/**  
	 * Test if this points to a live UObject
	 *
	 * @return true if Get() would return a valid non-null pointer
	 */
	FORCEINLINE bool IsValid() const
	{
		// This does the runtime type check
		return Get() != nullptr;
	}

What you’re maybe looking for is IsNull - here’s what that one looks like in source:

	/**  
	 * Test if this can never point to a live UObject
	 *
	 * @return true if this is explicitly pointing to no object
	 */
	FORCEINLINE bool IsNull() const
	{
		return SoftObjectPtr.IsNull();
	}

Edit: I just realized the source I have on hand is 5.4.4, though I doubt it would be that different here

1 Like
3

I switched to IsNull() and it works wonder now. Thank you for taking the time! I didn’t think of going through the source to find out how it works, that’s a great approach and I’ll remember to do that in the future.

Thanks!

1 Like